R5

Hailing from Los Angeles, California, R5 came together in 2009 as a melodic pop and rock group whose core lineup includes brothers Rocky Lynch on guitar and vocals, Ross Lynch also handling guitar and vocals, and Riker Lynch on bass and vocals, plus their sister Rydel Lynch contributing keyboards and vocals. The siblings grew up in Littleton, Colorado before moving to Los Angeles in 2007, at which point they connected with drummer Ellington Ratliff to complete the quintet. Their first EP, Ready Set Rock, arrived in 2010. Meanwhile Ross portrayed Austin Moon on the Disney series Austin & Ally and Riker took on a recurring part in Fox’s Glee, moves that raised the band’s visibility and led to a 2012 recording deal with Hollywood Records.

The following year brought their debut full-length Louder, whose lead single “Loud” helped the album reach number 24 on the Billboard 200. Those achievements earned the group a nomination for Best Band at the 2013 Disney Music Awards, though they ultimately claimed the Next Big Thing honor at the Next Big Thing Awards. Ross further heightened his profile that same year by starring in the hit Teen Beach Movie. The band sustained its forward momentum by wrapping a European tour early in 2014, then issuing the EP Heart Made Up on You that July.

One year afterward R5 delivered the sophomore album Sometime Last Night, which debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 and featured the singles “Smile,” “Let’s Not Be Alone Tonight,” “All Night,” “I Know You Got Away,” and “Dark Side,” along with the promotional track “F.E.E.L.G.O.O.D.” The record contained a larger share of songs penned by the members themselves and reflected a more grown-up perspective and sonic approach. In 2017 the five-piece issued the five-track collection New Addictions, which contained a cover of INXS’ “I Need You Tonight.”